Biography
So who are The Huers?
Musicians Phil Caffrey and Ian Cleverdon's first collaboration actually involved electric guitars, keyboards and social clubs! They met on a training course back in 1990 and soon discovered their mutual love of music.
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Phil and Ian, along with Ron Dougan (second from right) formed Picture This in 1990. They played popular cover versions in social clubs around the North West, and even sneaked in some of their own compositions when the audience were least expecting it! This shot was taken at Amazon Studios in Liverpool (unfortunately no longer with us), once home of many of the best recordings of the 1980s and 1990s. Not wishing to buck the trend, the guys were in for a day to complete a video soundtrack commission Ian received, which was to write and record a song about...wait for it...letter writing! |
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IHaving entertained many a drunken Northern reveller in the early 1990s,
Ron moved away to get a proper job and the band was no more. Many years
went past and then in 2008, Phil attended an open mic night in Up Holland,
Lancashire, which happened to be organised by Ian. After a few stints of
accompanying each other, they decided to renew their musical partnership
and so The Huers was born.
So what did they do in the meantime?
Ian Cleverdon Vocals, cello-mandolin, mandolin, tenor and acoustic guitars |
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Stints with Picture This and Oldham-based band The Visitors in the 1990s helped Ian learn both live work and recording studio techniques (namely the ubiquitous cheese-on-toast and mug of tea at lunchtime - rock and roll!) to the extent that he released his first cassette album, Approaching Alpha, to critical acclaim in 1995 and to help raise funds for the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy charity. Two more solo albums materialised: the chronologically titled Beyond Alpha (1999) and Night Visions (2001).
However in the late-90s he couldn't resist the bug of live performance and adulation, and co-founded folk-rock band Odd At Ease with his other big (well, medium-sized) musical mate Nigel Mawdsley. The Easies played live on a regular basis with UK performances including Broadstairs and Middlewich Folk Festivals, and supporting the world-famous acoustic duo Show Of Hands. For more details, why not visit their website www.oddatease.co.uk ...and don't forget his own site either, www.iancleverdon.co.uk
Oh, and despite all this, he still has his lovely wife of over 20 years'
standing (you think he would've given her a chair by now) Gill, and…surprise,
surprise…musically talented son Stuart.
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Phil Caffrey Vocals, guitar, cello-mandolin, piano, whistles |
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Phil worked on many projects, including writing a musical and productions
for schools. He ran music workshops for local school children; his ability
to turn his hand to any instrument (guitar, keyboards, whistle, drums…I
could go on! Ed.) was a boon to helping schools produce their own CDs with
his backing and production, and raised lots of funds in the process.
Throughout this period, Phil honed his writing and production skills and was active on the Liverpool acoustic scene, both solo and in collaboration with Manchester songwriter Malcolm Woodall.
Where does the name The Huers come from?
This is a question that has been asked many times. Phil and Ian thought of many names, none of which really hit the mark. Then on the morning of New Year's Day 2009, Ian was sat watching an ITV programme called Britain's Favourite View and witnessed Rolf Harris talking about his favourite place to paint - from a Huer Hut on the top of a cliff near St Ives in Cornwall. A 'huer' was a caller who lived on the hill top and watched out for incoming shoals of pilchards, the main form of income for fishing villages many centuries ago - he would call "hewa, hewa!" down to the harbour when he saw the fish coming in, and out the fishermen would go to make their catch, and thereby securing the livelihood of the villagers for a few more days.
It then dawned on Ian that the fishing theme was present in several of their own songs (In My Dream, John Robinson) and in other songs they cover (e.g BIlly Joel's Downeaster Alexa). Therefore the name was born.
To find out more about the history of the huer, click here to read a fascinating article on the BBC website.